NEWS OF THE DAY.

Patea Mail, Volume VIII, Issue 979, 3 January 1883, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Wc hear that Mr Smith contemplates starting a new brick and tile yard. He intends commencing operations in about a fortnight’s time, having made arrangements for the purchase of machinery, etc.

The Baptists in Wanganui have founded a church, and are sending home to Mr Spurgeon to select a minister for them. The regular sitting of the E.M. Court yesterday was not held. The people of Patea were so sober on New Year’s Day that even thejynx eyes of Sergt. Donovan or bis lieutenant, Constable Crozier, failed to detect a case of drunkenness which required “sitting upon.” From a private letter from Major Atkinson to a settler in the district we (Star) learn that there will be a meeting of Ministers immediately after a holiday, when probably some definite action will be taken in reference to the survey of the North Island trunk line railway route.

The recent showers have improved the appearance of the grain crops very greatly. The prospects of grain-growers throughout the district are remarkably good ; all those who sowed tolerably early are sure of good returns, provided that they have fairly good weather at harvest. Mr George White, senior, received a salutary lesson at the E.M. Court this morning. While in a state of drunkenness last evening, he stripped every shred of clothing off his wife and turned her into the street. George has retired into private life for three months at the invitation of the E.M.

Upwards of 1200 people, including the juveniles, attended the Caledonian games on Monday. In connection with the jumping we may mention that after the conclusion Mr Ussher easily cleared the same height as Mr Sergeant, sft |in, thus showing that it was misfortune not want of ability that caused him to fail at the previous attempt. Accovding to an exchange, the latest astronomical observation has discovered vast canals connecting the great lakes and inland seas of the planet Mars, which Mr Proctor declares to be the work of intelligent labourers. Mr Bowman, secretary to the Hawera Masonic Lodge, has received a telegram from the Premier stating that he will he in Hawera about the 12th January to open the new temple. Major Atkinson wil[ also then bo there.

Mr F. R. Jackson will hold his Manaia sale on Friday next. There is a large entry of cattle. The agents of the Giilchcr Electric Lighting Company have applied to the Dunedin City Council for leave to lay wires for service in that city. A good story is told concerning the natives resident on Mofiti Island, off Tauranga. A few weeks since the “ committee ” of the island, in solemn conclave assembled, decided that no spirituous liquors wore in future to be brought on to the island for sale, as has hitherto boon allowed, one of the resident natives having made quite “ a pile ” by buying rum, &c., by the gallon, and retailing it to Ills neighbours at a tremendous percentage This individual, however, determined to try his luck at evading the edict of the committee, and accordingly, a few clays since, purchased a good supply of liquor in Tauranga, and started for Motiti, intending to-smuggle it ashore. By some means or other the' committee got wind of the matter, watched.the return of this enterprising individual, confiscated the liquor, and hud a glorious spree of several days’ duration.—-Auckland Herald.

Our cablegrams to-day record the death of the eminent French statesman, M. Leon Gfambetta.

Naseby possesses an original character, who announces in the local paper “ Public notice of repudiation of personal debts.” If his example were to be followed generally throughout the colony, the effecl would be to finally set at rest the vexed “bankruptcy” question. The ingenuous “ notice ” referred to is as follows : —I, the undersigned, hereby declare that all debts owing by me, all rates and taxes, or any such commercial transactions, will become from hence null and void, all payment of such having been stopped, until all those debts and accounts owing to me are paid.”

A special cable message in (lie Melbourne Age is as follows ;—“Despite the reports circulated to the contrary, Arab! Pasha is in poor circumstances, and the Egyptian Government, acting on the suggestion of Lord Duffcrin, have therefore decided to make him an allowance of £SOO a year so long as be observes (be conditions under which the capital sentence passed upon him was commuted to one of exile. ”

A trick of a dastardly nature was perpetrated in St. Peter’s Church, Wellington, a few days ago. It appears that early on Sunday last some person having a knowledge of the building obtained access to the church, and opened the organ with the key, which is always placed in the same part of the edifice. A cat was then placed on the keyboard, and when flic organist opened the instrument for the purpose of commencing his duties, be was astonished to see (he animal jump on 'to the floor. As soon as the wind was pumped into the organ a continuous shriek issued from some of the treble pipes, and it at once became evident that the instrument had received considerable injury. In addition to this, it was found that the bass notes would not lift in the usual way when touched, and to get over the difficult}' a person was obliged to remain behind the instrument and adjust the wires. By this means the service was got through. The matter is now in the hands of the police.

A rather peculiar coach accident happened at Orepuki the other day. When the coach was brought to a standstill opposite the Courthouse (says the Riverton Star), one of the passengers rose out of his seat for the purpose of jumping out of the vehicle, but a movement of the horses was the moans of his losing his balance and falling out of the front of the coach amongst the horses’ feet, clutching the driver (who was standing with the reins in his hand) and bringing him down also. The horses immediately started down the hill, the coach, containing two children, turning a complete somersault, the children being underneath. Considerable misgivings were felt as to the fate of the youngsters, but, surprising to relate, they were rescued quite unharmed. The coach was much injured.

There appears, says the Herald , to he a general desire on this const to make some radical changes in the system of local government in accordance with the powers given by-the legislature especially last session. At Waverley, a portion of the settlers arc strongly in favour of separating themselves from the Patea Count}' and forming one of their own. They seem to have been not unnaturally influenced in this direction by the gross mismanagement of the Patea County affairs by a clique at Patea, which from the first has held the reins, but has guided so badly as to lose liaweva and disgust Waverley,

A determined attempt at murder was made at Kilmore, Victoria, on December Itli. Mr Norman Campbell, an old resident, had had in his employ as woodcutter a coloured man, whom he had discharged a day or two previously, parting with him on apparently good terms. Early on Sunday morning, however, the man in question is supposed Jo have entered Mr Campbell’s bedroom by a window for about 1 o’clock Mr Campbell was startled out of his sleep by a man sawing at; his neck with a large carving-knife, which, in the dark, fortunately came in conlactwilh thotopof the breastbone, and thus saved him from instant death. The would-be murderer, thinking lie had killed Mr Campbell, was in the act of drawing the knife across Mrs Campbell’s neck, when, fortunately , the blade was caught by Mr Campbell, who warded off the blow, but in so doing received a terrible gash in the band. The man then rushed out of the room, followed by Mr Campbell, who was b'ceding profusely. The wouid-bo murderer, however, got outside and escaped. The police, aided by some 50 settlers on hj rscbaek, scoured the country after the villain, who in the afternoon was caught and lodged in gaol, lie has since been committed for trial.